NEW ROLE OF RELIGIONS IN THE PANDEMIC CONTEXT

Roberta Santoro – Department of Political Science- University of Studies Aldo Moro- Bari Italy

 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ERAZ.2020.43

 6th International Conference – ERAZ 2020 – KNOWLEDGE BASED SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT,  Online/virtual, May 21, 2020, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

 Published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans – Belgrade, Serbia

Conference partners: Faculty of Economics and Business, Mediterranean University, Montenegro; University of National and World Economy – Sofia, Bulgaria; Faculty of Commercial and Business Studies – Celje, Slovenia; Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance – Belgrade, Serbia

ISSN 2683-5568, ISBN 978-86-80194-33-2, DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/ERAZ.2020

 Abstract

The global pandemic produces rules that impose suffering on religions, which must reconsider
their social role now. This entails the need to examine the rules of coexistence within societies,
where Coronavirus phenomenon raises existential and religious questions. We need to look at the
condition of the state of religious freedom – in the European context – referring to globalization in a
climate of restriction of personal, social, and religious freedom.
Complexity has undermined the role of states, the delimitation of competences regarding relations
with religions. For them, building community and associations relations where religious freedom is
expressed is fundamental. Believers are therefore bearers of specific interests.
This particular situation calls for a new function for religions, focused on the value of the person who
can lead to the common identity and guarantee «those values of social and community integration that
seem particularly discovered today».

Key words

Religious formations, Democracy, Europe, Faithful.

References

Cfr. Santoro, R. (2014), The Role of Religious Confessions in Building Europe, (p.78-99) in Vv. Aa., Europe
of founding fathers: investment in common future, Bari (Italy), Cacucci.

Cfr. Dammacco, G. (2003), Multiculturalism and the right to coexist of cultures in Europe. The new instances of the Balkan
countries, in Santelli Beccegato, L. (edited by), Interculturalism and future (pp.283-300), Bari (Italy), Levante.

Cf. Santoro, R. (2018), Multiculturalism and Religious Affiliation – or Religious Factor: Legal Problems of
a Changing Society, in Vv. Aa., Religious Phenomenon and Dynamic of Multiculturalism (pp.13-39), Bari
(Italy), Cacucci.